Judiciary and Law Society Form Joint Committee to Tackle Lawyer Attrition

The judiciary and the Law Society of Singapore are setting up a joint working committee to address concerns raised in a four-year study on lawyer attrition, which cited court deadlines and interactions with judges as significant sources of stress driving lawyers from the profession.

An SG Courts spokesperson said regular dialogues between the Law Society and the leadership of the courts have surfaced concerns. The spokesperson noted that in the past three years, a total of two formal conduct complaints were received, both of which were investigated thoroughly. “Our formal, independent judicial complaints process remains active and accessible for conduct-related complaints,” the spokesperson said, adding that the joint committee will look into whether the dialogue mechanisms and feedback channels are working and whether awareness of the available channels is sufficiently widespread.

The committee will also examine whether case management practices and timeline expectations are appropriately calibrated to the current realities of practice. “We have always recognised that timely justice is not a bureaucratic target,” said the spokesperson, adding that it is a fundamental issue of access to justice that benefits parties to court proceedings. “At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that the pursuit of timeliness does not come at an unreasonable cost to the practitioners, who are essential partners in the delivery of justice.”

The joint working committee will be led by SG Courts chief executive (Supreme Court) Juthika Ramanathan, Supreme Court registrar Tan Lee Keng, and Law Society representatives including Senior Counsel Loo Wee Ming, and young lawyers committee co-chairs Yap Yun Ning and Zhou Zijie.

The committee will focus on two key areas: analysing feedback on court-imposed pressures and courtroom conduct to gain a fuller understanding of the current practice environment — including the experiences of young lawyers and those with caregiving responsibilities — and developing practical measures to promote lawyer well-being while maintaining effective judicial operations.

Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon said in a statement: “While we must maintain the high standards needed to ensure the timely disposal of cases, the court must always be a place of dignity, professionalism and mutual respect. We expect all judges and judicial officers to adhere strictly to these standards of behaviour.”

The Ministry of Law also issued a statement, noting that Singapore’s legal talent is an invaluable asset and that the study’s findings must be taken seriously and carefully examined. It stressed the need for open and candid dialogue on balancing industry-wide development with individual career growth, while safeguarding the well-being and long-term sustainability of the legal profession.

More Than 100 Migrant Workers Report Unpaid Wages, MOM Investigates Two Firms

Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower is investigating two companies after more than 100 migrant workers gathered at its Bendemeer services centre on June 22 to report unpaid wages and housing concerns.

The workers, mainly from India and Bangladesh, said they were employed by KPA Engineering and SK Industries, companies that provide air-conditioning maintenance and related services. Workers told authorities they had not been paid for months, with some saying salaries had been delayed for up to three months. Several said they were left without money for food and transport after the companies reportedly ceased operations.

One worker said he was owed up to S$4,000, while another reported unpaid wages of around S$1,400 after earning about S$600 per month. Several workers said they were unable to contact company representatives or the recruitment agent who brought them to Singapore. One worker said, “We cannot find any of the bosses,” adding that repeated attempts to contact management had failed.

The Ministry of Manpower said it is investigating both firms for possible breaches of employment laws and is also looking into housing arrangements and other worker welfare issues. Officials added that workers may be allowed to seek new employment while their cases are being processed.

Ng Hwei Min, general manager of the Tripartite Alliance for Dispute Management at MOM, said workers were being supported with housing and meal arrangements, while enforcement action would be taken if violations were confirmed. She added that workers could also be placed on alternative passes while seeking new employment.

The Migrant Workers’ Centre said it had engaged more than 300 affected workers and provided immediate assistance, including food, transport support, and temporary shelter where necessary.

Migrant Worker Injured After Trees Fall in Back Alley Near Jalan Sultan

A migrant worker in his 30s was reportedly injured after three trees in a back alley near Jalan Sultan toppled as he was walking past, leaving him with little time to get out of the way. The incident occurred on Monday at around 3pm within a cluster of shophouses opposite Textile Centre, reported Lianhe Zaobao.

Witnesses told the Chinese newspaper that the injured man was sitting on the ground, seemingly stunned by the incident. Another male passer-by reportedly approached the injured man and checked on him before driving him to the hospital.

Liao Yong An, 74, told Lianhe Zaobao that there were three trees — including a papaya tree and a jackfruit tree — all over 10 metres tall. Two trees were already leaning precariously, he said. Liao said that he had taken photos of those two trees, and reported it to the authorities last week. However, the incident occurred before he received a response.

Singapore Takes More Flexible Approach to Dialect Films, Open to More Teochew Screenings

Singapore authorities will take a more “flexible approach” in considering applications for the screenings of dialect films in cinemas and remain open to further Teochew screenings of the hit Chinese film Dear You if the distributor applies, the Ministry of Digital Development and Information said on Monday.

The announcement comes in response to public debate over Teochew screenings of the film, with the ministry signalling a willingness to relax long-standing restrictions on dialect content in cinemas.

Real Estate Sentiment Falls into Pessimistic Territory Amid Middle East Crisis

Singapore’s real estate market sentiment has declined amid the ongoing Middle East crisis, with experts pointing to macroeconomic headwinds that have begun to weaken industry confidence.

The National University of Singapore’s Real Estate Sentiment Index for the first quarter of 2026 showed that market sentiment weakened significantly. The Current Sentiment Index fell from 6.1 in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 4.9 in the first quarter, entering pessimistic territory. The Future Sentiment Index also dropped from 5.5 to 5.0. The Composite Sentiment Index fell to 4.9, the first time in several quarters that it has dropped below the neutral level of 5.0.

Professor Qian Wenlan, director of NUS’s Institute of Real Estate and Urban Studies, noted that the Middle East crisis has triggered ripple effects including soaring energy costs, persistent inflation and high interest rates, which have dampened real estate market sentiment. “While the private residential market has shown structural resilience, macroeconomic headwinds are clearly putting pressure on the broader commercial and industrial real estate sectors.”

The survey showed that mass-market suburban private homes were one of the few segments that remained stable. Among respondents, those with a positive outlook on this segment outnumbered pessimists by 15 percentage points.

Half of the developers surveyed said they expect pricing for new private residential projects to rise slightly over the next six months, similar to the previous quarter. However, optimism for high-end private homes has weakened significantly, with optimists outnumbering pessimists by just five percentage points in the first quarter, down sharply from 41 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2025.

The commercial and industrial real estate sectors showed noticeably weaker sentiment. In the office segment, optimists outnumbered pessimists by 12 percentage points in the fourth quarter of 2025, but the two groups were evenly matched in the first quarter. Sentiment in the retail and hotel sectors also declined sharply.

Professor Qian noted that previous optimism in the local market has been replaced by expectations of severe external risks. “With the composite sentiment index falling below the neutral level, the real estate industry is clearly shifting from an expansionary mindset to defensive consolidation; businesses are also adopting risk-averse positions.”

BTS Concert Rush Reshapes Singapore’s Hospitality Market

Singapore’s hotel landscape is being recalibrated in real time as the arrival of BTS for four December concerts at the National Stadium triggers one of the sharpest demand spikes the city’s hospitality sector has seen in recent years.

According to CNA, based on exclusive interviews with hotel operators and Trip.com Singapore, the shift didn’t build gradually — it hit immediately after the tour announcement and accelerated further during ticket sales.

Edmund Ong, general manager of Trip.com Singapore, described a sudden surge in search traffic followed by conversion into bookings for the core concert dates between Dec 16 and 22. The scale is not subtle. Hotel reservations for that period are up more than 18 times year-on-year, with demand patterns concentrated into short stays rather than extended holidays. Three-star hotels have seen demand multiply nearly 50 times, while mid-tier and four-star properties are absorbing a large share of the remaining pressure.

What stands out is how quickly pricing has detached from normal December benchmarks. Some hotels are already charging multiple times their usual rates for the same nights, while others are expected to adjust further upward as occupancy tightens closer to the event. In practical terms, December in Singapore is no longer behaving like a standard peak season — it is behaving like a compressed event economy.

Location is becoming a defining factor. Areas such as Bugis and Kampong Glam are emerging as the most contested zones for accommodation, accounting for a significant share of concert-period bookings due to proximity and transport connectivity to the National Stadium.

The demand is also highly international. Visitors are primarily arriving from across Asia, with China and Japan leading, followed by Southeast Asian markets.

Inside the industry, the response is less about celebration and more about logistics. Hotel operators are actively adjusting staffing levels and operational workflows to handle compressed guest cycles — often one-night or two-night stays that create rapid turnover pressure. Based on CNA’s exclusive interviews with Ascott’s revenue management leadership, lessons from earlier large-scale concerts have already shaped current preparations, particularly around managing check-ins, housekeeping load, and early arrival surges that exceed standard service expectations.

GlobalFoundries Sees Singapore as Key to Humanoid Robot AI Push

US chipmaker GlobalFoundries, which has a large manufacturing footprint in Singapore and recently bought a local semiconductor firm, sees physical AI as the next big wave of innovation and a massive opportunity for the company to deliver energy-efficient, highly integrated chips and devices.

As artificial intelligence breaks out of computer and mobile phone screens and takes physical form, chipmakers are increasing their focus on the hardware and technologies that will run robots and the infrastructure needed to support them. Humanoid robots, widely considered the most revolutionary form of physical AI, are closer to mass production than many people realise.

Gregg Bartlett, the company’s chief technology officer, said GlobalFoundries has been working on physical AI and related semiconductor technologies for several years, with the goal of fundamentally changing the company from being just a chips contract manufacturer to a more holistic technology provider.

The company’s 2025 acquisition of Singapore’s Advanced Micro Foundry has expanded its silicon photonics technology portfolio, production capacity and research and development in the Republic. This complements the company’s existing capabilities in the US, unlocking new market opportunities and meeting the growing optical communication demands of AI data centres.

Singapore Airlines Passenger Jailed for Molesting Flight Attendant

A 35-year-old Indian national, Akash Tiwari, has been sentenced to six months in jail after molesting a Singapore Airlines flight attendant and later harassing her by cornering her in the aircraft’s galley. He was also ordered on June 22 to pay S$1,270.95 in compensation and faces an additional five days behind bars should he fail to make the payment.

The incident occurred on February 9 during a Singapore-bound flight from Thailand. Court documents reveal that Tiwari was travelling with four friends who became rowdy during the journey, waving frantically and laughing whenever a female crew member passed by.

The harassment began before takeoff in Bangkok. While the victim was confirming meal orders, Tiwari stretched out his arm to brush against her left upper thigh and laughed, while his friends joined in. The victim immediately reported the incident to the chief stewardess and was moved to a different aisle to avoid the offender. Despite this, Tiwari struck again, using his left elbow to nudge the victim’s buttock as she collected meal trays.

“She was very upset and told the accused not to touch her. Instead of apologising, he smirked,” Deputy Public Prosecutor Lynda Lee told the court.

When the victim and the chief stewardess confronted Tiwari, he remained unapologetic and insisted he had done nothing wrong. As the captain announced the plane’s descent, the victim retreated to the galley. Tiwari followed her, standing extremely close and ignoring her pleas for him to stay away.

“Instead of moving away, the accused persisted with the same threatening behaviour by coming even closer and cornered the victim in the galley,” the DPP said. Tiwari only ceased his harassment when the victim sought help from the chief stewardess. By then, the victim was in tears, visibly frightened, and shaking. Tiwari was arrested immediately after the plane landed in Singapore.

Business Briefs: SIA Plans Dim Sum Bond, Singtel Sells Gulf Development Stake

Singapore Airlines said on Monday that it plans to sell its first five-year benchmark dim sum bond, an offshore yuan bond issued outside mainland China, and has hired four banks to arrange the potential deal. The airline has not disclosed the planned size. Shares of SIA ended on Monday at S$7.33, up 0.7 per cent.

Property developer GuocoLand announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, GLL IHT, has priced an offering of S$110 million in fixed-rate notes due 2030, as part of its S$3 billion multicurrency medium term note programme. The notes carry a fixed interest rate of 2.5 per cent per annum.

Singapore Telecommunications sold a 2.8 per cent stake in Thai energy company Gulf Development for over US$770 million. The telecom company said it sold the stake via a private placement to international and domestic institutional investors for about 1 billion Singapore dollars, equivalent to US$773.2 million.

LTA Impersonation Phishing Scams Surge, At Least S$74,000 Lost in Three Weeks

At least S$74,000 has been lost to phishing scams involving the impersonation of Land Transport Authority officials in three weeks, said the police.

Singapore Shares Open Higher as US Eases Sanctions on Iranian Oil

The Straits Times Index rose 0.2 per cent, or 10.42 points, to open at 5,214.440 on Tuesday. The US Treasury on Monday issued a 60-day sanctions waiver, making way for Iranian oil production, deliveries, and sales to the US.